Napoleon in 1812 - Chapter 78
Chapter 78
13. Golden War – 2
In the end, this was only a trick of politicians to blame the sluggishness of the war and the failure of the battle only on the Commander.
Then they should give him enough authority to accompany his responsibilities, or give him enough support and assistance to continue the war!
Even if Britain is a ‘maritime empire’, shouldn’t it actively support the Army if it’s participating in a war on the continent?
British officers in the Allied forces were expressing widespread discontent over their country’s behavior that was only emphasizing the responsibility for defeat without thinking about what had been neglected.
“When we defeated Marmont’s Corps at Salamanca, all the media in the kingdom praised the Commander as if he were a legendary hero. We all remember that Westminster ministers and lawmakers were scrambling to lure him into their party. But now? This situation in which he’s pushed and criticized as if he were the source of all these failures and defeats is ridiculous. Now no one remembers how dangerous the Iberian Peninsula was before he came, and how much the troops here were desperate against the French.”
Major General Rowland Hill expressed the above lamentation at a drinking party with some coalition officers. Since the death of Marshal John Moore, tricolor flags had been covering the Iberian Peninsula.
The Spanish Provisional Government had been barely hanging on, crouching on a land of the size of a palm, Portugal was desperately trying protecting its territory, and the British Royal Council had been seriously considering abandoning the Iberian Peninsula.
Arthur Wellesley’s name was indispensable when talking about what had brought the war on the peninsula to the current situation when it had been almost completely defeated.
“The postwar reports that the staff officers and us wrote carefully clearly reveal our calling for the battle of Burgos. If they have a brain to think, they will know that the judgments we made in the battle at that time were the best decision. If it weren’t for the Commander, all our troops would have been trapped in Nabot’s camp, sitting on a cold floor waiting for their release. I have never seen anything more pathetic than them using the Commander and our troops as consumables for their political interests and provocative news.”
Arthur Wellesley had been a new hope for Iberia, which had only been considering the timing to raise a white flag, and had even brought the opportunity to turn the situation around.
Rowland Hill was the first to feel sympathy for his steely superior, whose credit was far from being recognized.
“As far as I know, Major General Hill was not originally very close to the Marquis. But after hearing your words today, I think you’ve changed your mind?”
Rowland Hill suddenly glanced at the brigadier general who asked a random question and burst into laughter.
“I was wondering who said this. The Brigadier General, who has been in Lisbon for two years, may well think so. You’re right. When the Commander was entrusted with general command of the entire peninsula, he received many complaints for a year.”
Arthur Wellesley was personally a very difficult man to get close to. He was known to be very aristocratic, authoritative and to have a cold-hearted personality.
Not only Rowland Hill but also other officers under his command had been uncomfortable around him. But that mood had completely changed in a year.
They saw his competence in the field, determination, leadership across many units, and his ability to win the most important victory.
When he began to advance north against a French army, that had never been defeated by Marshal John Moore, his personality was no longer a problem.
“But I do believe that no one will carelessly bring my words to the Commander’s ears.”
“Ha… Haha, of course, Major General.”
Rowland Hill poured the strong rum into his throat.
“I’m ignorant of the political situation and public opinion in Britain, but… as you said, it’s a pity if the Commander is in such trouble. In that sense, our country’s situation is a little better. At least we don’t have to be wary of anyone.”
He was Lieutenant General João Meldihortz, Chief of Staff of Brigadier General Francisco Pinto, Count of Amarante[1]. At first glance, his words may sound like Portugal was better than England, but those who gathered here knew that it was not.
The Portuguese royal family, including Queen Maria I and Regent João VI[2], quickly packed their bags and fled to their colony, Brazil, as soon as Napoleon Bonaparte invaded the Iberian Peninsula and advanced toward Portugal.
The same was true for the officials of the main cabinet of the government. A physical distance of thousands of miles was created between the administration and the military.
“That’s why our Portuguese army’s strategies or operations were not interrupted. There’s no one to criticize or blame us for winning or losing.”
It was not until the royal family and members of the government disappeared that the Portuguese military could choose a strategy solely for victory.
Coincidentally, only then did the Portuguese begin to see results. Lieutenant General Meldihortz complained about this.
“Uh… The hound that has lost its owner is better at fighting… There’s a reason why Nabot is flying around like that. In France, he’s at the top, so he doesn’t have anything to worry about.”
Rowland Hill looked at the stars outside the barracks with remorseful eyes. No matter how many complaints they had, they had to obey orders because they were soldiers.
The oppression coming from the country’s leaders and their resulting anger were soothed by alcohol. That way, they could go back to the battlefield with their uniforms and officers’ caps. The officers’ night was getting intense.
===
“The stock market in London is currently like the weather in Cambridge. It’s so gloomy and we don’t know when the rain clouds will disappear. Unless you’re denying the situation and have enough gold to fill the Thames, investing now would be way too risky.”
An old man said in an interview with London’s Economic Journal, Isle of Dogs. If he had been just an ordinary old man who enjoyed his grandchildren’s pranks, no one would have paid attention and would have come to cover the matter in an economic journal. But the old man’s name was Patrick Stuart, a man known as a financier legend in London.
Stuart began to gain fame when he bought a large amount of bonds from corporations that were on the southern coast that were circling at a bargain price in the markets in the midst of a war between Britain and France.
Everyone thought he was crazy. A stupid retirement official mocked him for spilling his old age funds in the Strait of Dover. But exactly five months later, the war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Amiens[3] between Britain and France.
As a result of the treaty, Britain occupied parts of the island of Sri Lanka that were previously controlled by the Dutch East India Company.
The price of the bonds of corporations that were on the southern coast soared madly and Patrick Stuart became one of the richest people in London’s financial district.
A man called the legend of investment was now advising people around the world through an economic magazine by saying ‘this is not the time to invest’. The weight of his words was definitely not light.
“Then, Stuart, Sir, when do you think the right time to invest will come? As you had expected the Treaty of Amiens to be signed, I think we can look forward to your prediction this time as well.”
“I’m not a prophet, unfortunately. Even Westminster, who was leading the war and negotiations, didn’t expect the gap between the two countries to narrow so quickly, so how could I know that? However… at that time, I thought that bonds of southern corporations had a lower market value compared to others. What greater opportunity than to buy a 3-pound thing for 8 ounces (0.5 pounds)? That’s why I was able to spend money without hesitation.”
With a gentle smile, Patrick Stuart continued.
“There is only one thing I want to say through this. This is certainly not the right time for investment. However, we sometimes meet winners who break through the odds and achieve tremendous success. I’m ashamed to say that I’m one of them. What I did at the time wasn’t so grand. I just bought and waited for things that were undervalued compared to the market value. After all, the most important thing in investing is to develop the right eye for value, and not just look at the flow of the market. If you remember and put into practice what I am saying, you will be able to achieve your desired results.”
“Thank you for your good words today. This was an interview with Patrick Stuart, who runs Stuart Bank of London.”
===
Britain, with Europe’s most advanced financial, securities and bond systems, had about 10 financial autonomous districts in London.
The amount of money they managed and operated was at least hundreds of thousands of pounds each. It was a huge ‘economy’ in itself, exceeding the annual revenue of most small and medium-sized countries in Europe.
London’s financial district, where all of Europe’s gold was gathered, deserved to be called the hub among hubs.
There was a reason why this small special borough, which was only about a square mile, was called the heart of Europe, or even of the world, beyond England.
Financial and securities firms had no choice but to establish corporations within financial autonomous districts that had corporate and income taxes reduction.
Therefore, many companies and businesses that received financial investment from them also established their headquarters near them, and, naturally, organizations of high-level experts, including patent offices, law firms, and accountants, also settled nearby.
The ‘City of London’ was the oldest financial autonomous municipality in the United Kingdom, with the London Stock Exchange and the Bank of England flying Union Jacks in its center.
The City of London, the city of gold and finance, was full of young people searching for success.
A secure income, a stable job, or an individual’s dream, a desire to succeed… Most of them experience painful failures and talent limitations and fell and disappeared.
Those who survived, however, could be reborn as hands controlling the entire British economy.
As the place where the most ‘golden trade’ took place in Europe, it was also a place where all kinds of humans could be seen and heard.
“It’s like the grasslands of Africa or the jungles of the Amazon River. It’s a place where you pick up things that fell around and eat them, because if you don’t grow as big as you can you’ll be eaten.”
Howard Buck was explaining the City of London’s ‘rules’ to a new recruit. Gordon Banks was one of the ten largest financial corporations in the City of London. And Howard Buck was the leader of Gordon Banks’ team.
“What’s the most important thing when deciding on investment in stocks and bonds?”
“You said information.”
“Yes, information. There are certainly people in this era who achieve legendary returns based on information that others don’t know, and who have collected enormous gold. Financial firms are all aware of the power of fast and accurate information.”
“…”
“In that sense, our team’s role is to get information about what Gordon Banks can invest in. Of course, this includes all the sordid and dirty information hidden from the rest of the world, as well as the media taboos.”
Buck flaunted his team by lifting his wild beard. The securities firm in London all ran their own intelligence teams, as did Buck’s Gordon Banks.
In addition, numerous spies were planted in the kingdom’s parliament, cabinet, and military, and they were collecting rumors and news that could make money.
“So we…”
Buck, who was helping the new recruit over a glass of beer, had to stop talking, staring elsewhere at some point.
Naturally, the newcomer’s face turned to the same side. They both looked at a group of men.
They paced outside for a moment before coming into the pub. The three men with black top hats were wearing very luxurious clothes and attire, and attracted the attention of all the people in the pub.
“W-what about them…?”
“…These are the humans I just told you about. They used information that others didn’t know and quickly became rich.”
Or they were lucky enough to be loved by God. The envy and jealousy in Buck’s expression seemed to never be able to go away.
The new recruit examined their appearance closely. Soon after, he found unique initials written on the front of their top hats.
‘L.V.C.’
Since its comet-like appearance at the end of September last year, it was an emerging financial company that had grown explosively, succeeding in every field and breaking records.
After feeling the envy and jealousy of all the financiers in the City of London, the three men took a quick look inside the pub, drank a glass of mead and left. The short laugh they left before leaving the pub seemed to laugh at the whole crowd inside.
“Damn it, I feel like crap.”
Buck gulped down his beer. The new recruit also looked around and continued to drink his beer.
TL notes
[1] Francisco Pinto, Count of Amarante
[2] Maria I of Portugal, João VI
[3] The Treaty of Amiens was one of the treaties that ended the War of the Second Coalition, in which a coalition made of the United Kingdom, Russia, Austria, the Holy Roman Empire, Turkey, Sweden, Portugal and the Ottoman Empire fought and lost against France, its sister republics and Spain.
